1
as in preferably
by choice or preference
I would rather go to the movies than stay at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in instead
as a substitute
don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pretty
to some degree or extent
I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rather
They are considered rather volatile in the cryptocurrency space with a large amount of risk and are more symbolic rather than investment focused, allowing buyers to support an online personality or celebrity.
—
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Bronze: Catherine Parenteau Mixed Pro Doubles Recap The new season has given us some new partnerships to watch, but the cream still seems to rise to the top rather frequently in Mixed Doubles on tour.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
And so Lively’s allegations against Baldoni were never going to be seen as brave, but, rather, as the kindling for a culture war.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
The first is that cow manure on its own doesn’t naturally contain methane; rather, the way that large dairy operations store manure produces the potent greenhouse gas, despite low-methane alternative storage methods.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rather 
Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Bronze: Catherine Parenteau Mixed Pro Doubles Recap The new season has given us some new partnerships to watch, but the cream still seems to rise to the top rather frequently in Mixed Doubles on tour.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
And so Lively’s allegations against Baldoni were never going to be seen as brave, but, rather, as the kindling for a culture war.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
The first is that cow manure on its own doesn’t naturally contain methane; rather, the way that large dairy operations store manure produces the potent greenhouse gas, despite low-methane alternative storage methods.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
This formula comes in a 2-ounce bottle and requires regular use of a few drops on the scalp once a day, preferably at night.—
Christina Shepherd McGuire,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2025
-
For looking at the night sky, choose at least 10x42, preferably 10x50, which keeps the magnification low enough to easily navigate the night sky while allowing enough light in at night.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
20 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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But the performances are so lived-in that what could have been an overdose of whimsy instead acquires emotional substance in its reflections on life, above all on accepting the sadness and regrets of the past and finding a forward path.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
1 Feb. 2025
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The team instead banished Crowder with pay for the season.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
As a mom of seven, Hilaria Baldwin has figured out some pretty smart ways to keep her bathroom clean.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Telling people to evacuate with no plan — or even an actual route — seems pretty futile.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
When the ocean is relatively calm and shallow, there is also less plankton, sand, particles, and other materials constantly churning in the waves, which gives the water a clearer appearance.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2025
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And the relatively rare women who do kill themselves with guns usually fit a certain profile.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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Flight lands soon At Reagan National Airport, Hamaad Raza received a text message from his wife: The flight was about 20 minutes from touching down.—
Ray Sanchez and Chelsea Bailey,
CNN,
1 Feb. 2025
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However, questions were soon raised over the provenance of the semiconductors used to build DeepSeek’s R1 reasoning model given U.S. restrictions on exporting advanced AI chips in China.—
Katrina Bishop,
CNBC,
1 Feb. 2025
Adverb
-
Ben quite possibly may need a little more time and a little more quiet to repair and figure out his next phase and what that entails.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
Fox News,
3 Feb. 2025
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Dressing like Merlin and demanding more of the industry that’s celebrating you is, quite delightfully, another.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2025
Adverb
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How Klingberg and Regula might alter blue-line plans The outcomes and options pertaining to Klingberg are fairly clear.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
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Doing Renewable Energy Right Industries inside and outside renewables have a chance to do the energy transition right—fairly and equitably.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
Adverb
-
Central Minnesota has stayed somewhat cooler, in part due to some snow still on the ground.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2025
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Most presidents and parties bargain within a circumscribed zone: They are somewhat bound by existing interests and ideologies and promises.—
Ezra Klein,
The Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near rather
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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